Feel only-for in silence gently gliding Fain would he shun both ear and sight, "Twixt Prayer and watchful Love his heart dividing, A nursing father day and night. Such were the tender arms, where cradled lay, The Church of JESUS; such the love He to his chosen taught for His dear widow'd Dove. Warm'd underneath the Comforter's safe wing Here loving hearts, that daily know The heavenly consolations they on you bestow. Sweet thoughts are theirs, that breathe serenest calms, Of holy offerings timely paid, Of fire from Heaven to bless thy votive alms And passions on GoD's altar laid. a Acts iv. 37. Having land, he sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles' feet. The world to them is clos'd and now they shine With rays of love divine, Through darkest nooks of this dull earth Pouring, in showery times, their glow of " quiet "mirth." New hearts before their Saviour's feet to lay, This is their first their dearest joy: Their next, from heart to heart to clear the waya For mutual love without alloy : Never so blest, as when in JESUS' roll They write some hero-soul, More pleas'd upon his brightening road To wait, than if their own with all his radiance glow'd. O happy spirits, mark'd by God and man Their messages of love to bear", What though long since in Heaven your brows began The genial amarant wreath to wear, And in th' eternal leisure of calm love Ye banquet there above, a Acts ix. 27. Barnabas took him, and brought him (Saul) to the Apostles. b Acts xi. 22. xiii. 2. Yet in your sympathetic heart We and our earthly griefs may ask and hope a part. Comfort's true sons! amid the thoughts of down Sure, 'tis one joy to muse, how ye unknown Where'er the Cross is borne with smiles, Or lighten❜d secretly by Love's endearing wiles : Where'er one Levite in the temple keeps Thus saints, that seem to die in earth's rude strife, Only win double life : They have but left our weary ways To live in memory here, in heaven by love and praise. ST. JOHN BAPTIST'S DAY. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord and he shall turn the heart of the fathers unto the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers. Malachi iv. 5, 6. TWICE in her season of decay The fallen Church hath felt Elijah's eye Whose torch afar Shadows and boding night-birds fly. Methinks we need him once again, That favour'd seer-but where shall he be found? By Cherith's side we seek in vain, In vain on Carmel's green and lonely mound : From Sinai soar, On his celestial errands bound. But wafted to her glorious place By harmless fire, among the ethereal thrones, Her likeness true, And trace, in thine, her own deep tones. Deathless himself, he joys with thee To commune how a faithful martyr dies, And in the blest could envy be, He would behold thy wounds with envious eyes, Star of our morn, Who yet unborn Didst guide our hope, where Christ should rise. Now resting from your jealous care For sinners, such as Eden cannot know, Ye pour for us your mingled prayer, No anxious fear to damp Affection's glow. Love draws a cloud From you to shroud Rebellion's mystery here below. St. Luke i. 74. The Babe leaped in her womb for joy. |